Current Time 0:08 / Duration 5:23 Loaded: 15.31% This research connects infectious disease dynamics to ecosystem health by examining how climate change affects the biocontrol of invasive species. The fungal pathogen Entomophaga maimaiga has kept spongy moth populations in check, much like how infectious diseases are controlled in humans. Using disease models designed for humans, researchers analyze how environmental changes impact the spread of pathogens in insect populations. Spongy moths (Lymantria dispar), notorious for their destructive impact on North American forests, have long been a concern for forest managers and ecologists. The moths, introduced to North America in 1869, have caused significant damage to hardwood forests, particularly attacking oak trees. This has contributed to a phenomenon known as “oak decline,” where oaks are being replaced by more resilient but less ecologically valuable species like maples. In 1989, a natural biocontrol, E maimaiga , a fungal pathogen, was introduced and helped to suppress spongy moth populations for nearly three decades. In our interview with Greg Dwyer, PhD, professor in the department of ecology and evolution at the University of Chicago , we explored the intersection of climate change, invasive species, and ecosystem health. Dwyer, a quantitative ecologist who uses mathematical models to study disease dynamics in insect populations, discussed the significance of the fungal biocontrol of the invasive spongy moth. He explained the moth’s destructive impact “Spongy moth is an insect. It’s a moth. It has a caterpillar that feeds on many different species of trees, and it was accidentally introduced into North America in 1869… and since then, they’ve spread through much of North America, and they have a terrible effect on hardwood forests, which means forests that have broadleaf trees in them. They especially attack oak trees, and they are one of the contributing factors in oak decline, […]
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